Swivel lamp fixture



Dec. 15, 1925. 1,5 6,220.

\ G. LILLY SWIVEL LAMP FIXTURE Filed Oct. 1922 Patented Dec. 15, 1925.

PATENT OFFICE.

GUSTAVUS LILLY, INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA.

SWIVEL LAMP FIXTURE.

Application filed October 30, 1922. Serial No. 597,796.

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GUs'rAvUs LILLY, a citizen of the United States,residing at Indianapolis, in the county of Marion and State of Indiana,have invented a new and useful Swivel Lamp Fixture, of-which thefollowing is a specification.

The regular electric-light fixtures provided in rooms are often found tobe inadequate, and even to produce shadows where light is needed, andadditional and movable light-sources are often desired; and yet theordinary portable. lamp with its need for space and its troublesome andalways-in-theway cord is not satisfactory.

It is theobject of my invention to provide a simple and economicallyconstructed light fixture by which an additional and movable source oflight may be obtained without the aforesaid disadvantages; which may beused in connection with already existing permanent outlet fixtureswithout interfering with the light-sources already provided; and whichpermits the extra lightsource to be moved about a supporting axiswithout any bending of conductors and with its support wholly'overhead.More specifically, it is my object to provide a light fixture for use atthe lower end of an overhead support, which fixture provides a lateralextension movable about the axis of a stationary part of the fixture andhaving lampsupplying conductors connected by sliding contacts to theconductors of such stationary part; and to provide, if desired, alightsource at such main part, so then there'may be lights both at suchmain part and on the swingable lateral extension.

The accompanying drawing illustrates my invention: Fig. 1 is a sideelevation of the device; Fig. 2 is a fragmental enlarged side elevation,in partial section, of the central swiveling fixture; Fig. 8 is afragmental section on the line 33 of Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a perspectiveView of the cover shell surrounding the swiveling fixture; Fig. 5 showsthe support for the inner end of a brace which carries the load of theextension arm and hght; Fig. 6 1s a fragmental elevatlon of analternative structure taking the place of the standard light socket onthe end of a an overhead support; and Fig. 7 is a fragmental perspectiveview of the lower contact ring and shoe.

My swiveling fixture 10, in its form shown in Figs. 1 and 2, maybe-screwed into a usual lamp socket 11 provided on the lower end of thedepending pipe or other overhead support 12. On the lower end ofthisswiveling fixture is preferablv provided a standard lamp socket 13into which may be screwed a light bulb 1 1.- Projecting laterally fromthe swiveling fixture is a standard socket 15 into which screws a plug16 on the inner end of the laterally extending conduit 17, which ispreferably a rigid tubular arm. It is this lateral'arm 17 which may beswung around the main axis of the swiveling fixture. The outer end ofthislateral conduit may have any standard outlet fixture, such socket 18which may receive an electric light bulb 19. The arm 17 is preferablyprovided at an intermediate point with a brace 21 attached to the arm 17by means of a collar 22. The upper end of the brace 21 is provided witha hook 23 partially surrounding'the conduit 12 and supported thereon bythe collar 24. ,A chain 25 may be provided near the end of the arm 17 toaid in' swinging it. The sockets 13 and 15 shown. contain the ordinarypull switches, although this not an essential feature of my invention. 1

The swiveling fixture 10 is supported in the socket 11.by a plug 26 ofinsulating material having on one end the usual threaded metaltube 27and the usual central contact 31 similar to those of the ordinaryextension lug. Near its lower end this plug has an enlargement (shown inFig. 2) provided With a lug 28, which engages a slot in a split collar29 clamped to the outer shell of the socket 11 by a bolt 80 to preventturning of the plug 26 in such socket.

' Two long bolts 32 and 33 having their upper ends in electrical contactwith the center contact piece 31 and the threaded metal tube 27respectively extend longitudinally through the plug 26, through circularinsulating blocks 34 and 35', and into the socket 13. These bolts 32 and33 not only clamp the blocks 34 and 35 between the plug 26 and thesocket 13, but also serve the purpose of conducting the current to twocurved brushes 36 and 37 and to the lamp socket 13. The upper surface ofthe block 35 is provided with an annular recess around its periphery,the hole through which the bolt 33 runs is enlarged in such uppersurface to a depth equal to that of the peripheral recess, and the wallbetween this enlarged hole and the peripheral recess is cut away asshown in Fig. 3. The curved brush 36 lies in the recess in the topsurface of the block 35, and is so bent that its middle portion entersthe enlarged hole and surrounds and engages the bolt 32, as is shown inFig. The upper surface of the block 34: is provided with a recess andenlarged hole similar to those of the block and spaced 180 theret'rom sothat the enlarged hole surrounds the bolt 32. The second brush 37 isexactly like the brush 36, and itsbent-in middle part is in contact withthe bolt 32 and its ends extend around the block at in its recess.

A ring of metal. 38 slidingly surrounds the lower brush 36, which bearsoutward resil iently against it to form a sliding contact A shoe 39 liesbetween the brush 36 and ring 38 and is provided with a shank 4-0extending outward through a notch in the ring 38. A similar ring 42 andshoe 43 form contact with the upper brush 37. The shanks and 44: of theshoes 39 and 43 extend into longitudinal holes in a circular block ofinsulating material e5, in which they are clamped to two metallic strips46 and 47 respectively. The two metallic strips 16 and 47 are bent atright angles at their outer end to form'ears through which run bolts 48and 49 ot the standard lamp socket 15.

A split metallic cover shell 50, preferably lined with a strip ofinsulating material 51 to separate it from the rings 38 and 42,surrounds the blocks 34 and 35, and has a main cylindrical portionprovided at each end with an internally projecting flange, one of whichoverlies an annular flange on the lower end of the plug 26 and the otherof which overlies a similar flange on the block 35. The shell also has alaterally projecting portion 52 which surrounds the block and isprovided on its outer end with two diametrically opposite ears 53through which pass screws 5% by which it is attached to said block Theshall. turns on the bio 1 3-1 and 35 as the arm 17 is swung.

'i re alternative structure shown in Fig. 6 permits the elimination ofthe socket 11, plug 28, and the collar 29. A metallic cap 60, verysimilar to that of an ordinary light socket, is fitted to the end of thedepending or conduit 12. ,Vithin the cap d a shoe 7 plug ot insulatingmaterial 61 by means of two screws (32 located on opposite sides of thecap 60. That portion of the plug 61 which projects into the cap 60 isprovided wit-l1 suitable metal contact pieces 63 which serve to formelectrical connection between supply wires 64; and the bolts 32 and 33.The plug 61 is so located relative to the cap 60 that an annular grooveis formed between the lower edge of the cap and the shoulder on theplug. The annular flange on the upper end of the shell 50 fits in thisgroove between the cap 60 and the plug shoulder. The remainder of theswivel fixture below the plug 61 is the same as that below the plug 26in the form of my invention shown in Figs. 1 and 2, and alreadydescribed, so that the two forms are the same save for their specificmountings 011 the supporting pipe 12.

I claim as my invention:

1. An electric-light fixture, comprising a member having a plurality oflaterally spaced longitudinally extending electrical conductors therein,a plurality of longitudinally spaced outwardly spring-pressed contactseach of which is in contact with one of said longitudinal extendingconductors but insulated from the other conductors and contacts, asecond member rotatable on said first member, and a plurality ofcontacts which are carried by said second member and each of whichslides on and is springpressed upon by one of the contacts of said firstmember as the second member is rotated.

2. An electric-light fixture, comprising a member having a plurality oflaterally spaced longitudinally extending electrical conductors therein,a plurality of longitudinally spaced contacts each of which is incontact with one of said longitudinal extending conductors but insulatedfrom the other conductors and contacts, said longitudinally extendingconductors being connected at one end to a lamp socket and adapted atthe other end to be connected to a source of current, a second memberrotatable on said first member without rotating said lamp socket, and aplurality of contacts which are carried by said second member and eachof which slides on one ot'the contacts of said first member as thesecond member is rotated to take off current. in shunt to said lampsocket in any direction.

3. An electric-light fixture, comprising a member having a plurality oflaterally spaced longitudinally extending electrical conductors therein,a plurality of longitudinally spaced contacts each of which is incontact withone of said longitudinal extending conductors but insulatedfrom the other conductors and contacts, said longitudinally extendingconductors being connected at one end to a lamp socket, a second memberrotatable on said first member without rotating said lamp socket, and aplurality of contacts which are carried by said secondmember and each ofwhich slides on one of the contacts of said first member as the secondmember is rotated to take off current in shunt to said lamp socket inany direction.

at. An electric-light fixture, comprising a member having a plurality oflaterally spaced longitudinally extending electrical conductors therein,a plurality of longitudinally spaced contacts each of which is incontact with one of said longitudinal extending conductors at anintermediate point therealong but insulated from the other conductorsand contacts, said longitudinal'conductors being adapted to be connectedto a source of current supply, a second member rotatable on said firstmember and relatively to said longitudinal conductors, and a pluralityof contacts carried by said second member each of which slides on one ofthe contacts of said first member as the second member is rotated.

5. A swivel lamp fixture, comprising a stationary member, an armrotatable on said stationary member on a longitudinal axis thereof,conductors carried on said arm, supply conductors in said stationarypart, and sliding contact means to effect electrical connection betweenthe conductors carried on said arm and intermediate portions of saidsupply conductors, said supply conductors being provided with connectionpoints on both sides of the intermediate portions atwhich theyco-operate with said sliding contact means.

6. A swivel lamp fixture, comprising a stationary member, electricalconductors extending therethrough, an arm rotatable on said stationarymember on a longitudinal axis thereof, wires carried on said arm, andsliding contact means to effect electrical connection between saidelectrical conductors and the wires carried on said arm at pointsbetween the ends of said stationary member, said electrical conductorsbeing provided with connection points on both sides of the intermediatepoints at which they co-operate with said sliding contact means.

7. A swivel lamp fixture, comp-rising a stationary member, electricalconductors therein, a current-outlet fitting stationarily mounted onsaid stationary member and electrically connected to said electricalconductors, an arm rotatable on said stationary member on a longitudinalaxis thereof, wires carried on said arm, and sliding contact means toefiect electrical connection between said electrical conductors and thewires carried on said arm in shunt to said current-outlet fitting.

8. A swivel lamp fixture, comprising a stationary member, electricalconductors station-ary therein and accessible at both ends of saidstationary member, an arm rotatable on said stationary member on alongitudinal axis thereof, a current-outlet fitting u'iounted on saidarm and connected to wires carried on said arm, and sliding contactmeans to effect shunt electrical connection between said electricalconductors and the wires carried on said armiv Y 9. A swivel lampfixture, comprising a stationary member, electrical supply conductorstherein, a current-outlet fitting stationarily mounted on saidstationary member and electrically connected to said electricalconductors, an arm rotatable on said stationary member on a longitudinalaxis thereof, a current-outlet fitting mounted on said arm and connectedto wires carried on said arm, and sliding contact means to effect shuntelectrical connection between said electrical conductors and the wirescarried on said arm.

10. A swivel electric-light fixture, comprising two members the secondof which is rotatably mounted on the first at an intermediate pointalong said first member, said first member being provided with a screwcurrent-outlet fitting at each end, and the second member being providedat the side with a screw current-outlet fitting.

11. A swivel electric-light fixture, comprising two members the secondof which is rotatably mounted on the first at an intermediate pointalong said first member, said first member being provided with a currentoutlet fitting at each end, and the second member being provided at theside with a current-outlet fitting.

12. An electric-light fixture, comprising a supporting member providedat one end with a current-outlet fitting, and with supply conductorsleading into its other end, and a member rotatably mounted on saidsupporting member and carrying conductors having sliding-contactconnection with said supply conductors in shunt to said current-outletfitting on said supporting member.

13. An electric-light fixture, comprising a supporting member providedat one end with a current-outlet fitting, and with supply conductorsleading into its other end, and a member rotatably mounted on saidsupporting member and carrying conductors having sliding-contactconnection with said supply conductors in shunt to said current-outletfitting on said supporting member, and a current-outlet fitting mountedon said rotatably mounted member and connected to the conductors carriedby said rotatably mounted member.

14. An electric-light fixture, comprising a supporting member providedat one end with a current-outlet fitting, and with supply conductorsleading into its other end, and a member rotatably mounted on saidsupporting member and carrying conductors having sliding-contactconnection with ductors carried by said rotatably mounted said supplyconductors in shunt to said member. current-outlet fitting on saidsupporting In witness whereof, I have hereunto set 0 member, and alateral extension arm exmy hand at Indianapolis, Indiana, this 27th 5tending from said rotatably mounted memday of October, A. D. onethousand nine ber and provided at its end with a currenthundred andtwenty two. outlet fitting which is connected to the con- GUSTAVUSLILLY.

